Cargo ship collision: 4 dead 7 missing

A deadly collision between two ships the Baltic Ace and the Corvus J in the freezing waters off the coast of Belgium and the Netherlands. Has resulted in the deaths of four sailors, from the Baltic Ace, with another seven missing suspected dead. A Netherlands Coastguard spokesman said the chance of finding anyone alive was "virtually zero". On top of the 13 sailors who have already been rescued despite strong winds and waves over 9ft high.

The accident happened in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The Baltic Ace was sailing under a Bahamas flag and carrying cars from Zeebrugge to Finland. The other ship the Cyprus registered the Corvus J was sailing from Grangemouth in Scotland to the Belgian port of Antwerp. And although it is said to be badly damaged it is not in danger of sinking. All 12 crew members are still on board.

A Dutch coastguard added so far the cause of the collision was not yet known.